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Dollarway shuts out Crossett

CROSSETT — The 2-4A Dollarway Cardinals received a 139 yard and two touchdown performance from Keyshawn Williams in defeating the 8-4A Crossett Eagles 36-0 on Friday night.

In a steady downpour with adverse field conditions, Dollarway controlled the tempo with Williams and company as the Cardinals gashed the Eagles defense for 218 yards on the ground and three scores.

Dollarway’s head coach Cortez Lee was very proud of his team’s effort and knew that Williams would break out soon.

“I was proud of Keyshawn,” Lee said. “That is something that we had been expecting earlier in the season. But with football, things take time and I think he is starting to round into form. ”

While the Cardinals offense was clicking, despite three turnovers, the defense was just as impressive forcing Crossett into four turnovers and not allowing a first down until late in the fourth quarter after the game was already decided.

“Our defense performed well,” Lee said. “With the inclement weather, I was proud of how we maintained and didn’t break when they had a few opportunities.”

Dollarway jumped out to quick 8-0 lead with 10:39 in the first. After a botched punt attempt from Crossett punter Josh Outlaw, the Cardinals took over from the Eagles 23-yard line. After a 5-yard offside’s penalty, Williams took the handoff and scampered into the end zone for 18 yards and the touchdown. The Cardinals added the two-point conversion when Darius Robinson ran in from 3 yards out.

On Dollarway’s next possession, senior quarterback Joshua Liddell scored from 2 yards out to increase the lead to 14-0 as the two-point conversion failed. After a fourth down stop for the Dollarway defense, Williams needed just one carry as he busted up the middle for a 42-yard touchdown run.

The biggest play from Dollarway’s defense came with 4:40 left to play in the second quarter. After Liddell threw the Cardinals first interception of the year, the Eagles had the ball in Cardinal territory. With the Eagles driving, Kabion Ento intercepted Zach Goodwin’s pass and raced down the right sideline for an 88-yard touchdown return as the Cardinals never looked back.

Dollarway added a safety in the third quarter when Crossett snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head. The Cardinals also received a pick-six from Chaderius Avery later in the quarter to set the final score at 36-0 after adding the two-point conversion.

Dollarway now turns its attention to conference play as they open up on the road at Newport. Coach Lee expects a good game as they prepare for the grueling conference season.

“They’re a good team,” he said of Newport. “We beat them last year but it was a contested game throughout. We are expecting the same thing and we have to have a great week of preparation.

“We just want to make sure that we shore up the things that we are deficient in and continue to improve.”